In His word God often uses word pictures and cultural examples to speak to His people. As I prepared to read the book of Hosea I began with the introductory. It’s a brief synopsis of the outline of each book before the first chapter begins.
In this particular introductory I found the description it gives of the role of the prophets, and the explanation of how God uses Hosea’s life as a word picture, to be very informative.
This is what it says; “God’s prophets did more than give sermons warning of God’s judgments. Sometimes their lives were the people’s lessons. God asked Hosea to do a difficult thing: He was to marry a woman who would abuse his love. As the people of Israel prostituted themselves with false gods, so Hosea’s wife, Gomer, would leave him for other men.
Each of Gomer’s three children received a name that told of God’s dissatisfaction with Israel’s spiritual adultery. And as Hosea bought his wife and brought her back home, so the nation was charged to return to God and be faithful to him. God’s yearning love had been disdained, yet it still endured.”
Most of us are familiar with the Bible saying “we were created in God’s image” But do you realize our human relationships with one another are a representation of our relationship with God?
I talk a lot about God being my/our heavenly Father, and for those of us who had a good relationship with our earthly Dad we can see the parallel example which helps us better understand God as our father.
For those who have not had a good relationship with their earthly father, I assure you God is not capable of evil but only good. Take every good description of what a father is suppose to be and multiply the intensity of it by a million, and that’s what a good, perfect father God is. I can testify to the truth of this statement because I have personally experienced a father daughter spiritual relationship with my God for many years.
Although I must confess, I am still in the honeymoon stage with my Lord Jesus Christ. I am still learning the relationship of having him as a husband, and me as his bride. The full understanding will not be complete until He comes back for His church. (Matthew 25:1 – 13), (John 14:1 – 3)
Until then, we as the church can use the Bible and the examples of good successful marriages here on earth to help us understand this significant relationship of bride and groom, between the church and Christ.
In Ephesians 5, it gives us God’s instructions on how to be good husbands and wives to one another; as Christ is with the church. However, the couple of scriptures I’d like to present are found in Isaiah and 2 Corinthians.
Isaiah 54:5;
“For your husband is your Maker, Whose name is the Lord of hosts;
and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel,
Who is called the God of all the earth.
2 Corinthians 11:2;
”I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband,
to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to Him.”
All through the book of Hosea we see God’s people breaking their covenant with their God through the act of spiritual adultery. They ran to other countries when they were in distress instead of praying to the only one who had the power to protect, fight and deliver them. They chose to sacrifice to, and worship a man made calf idol, instead of the creator of heaven and earth. Although the Lord prospered them in all they put their hands to, it still was not enough, and their hearts desired more of the world than more of God. Does this sound familiar?
I like the thoughts of another author when he wrote;
“But all too often we casually “sleep with” other gods and worldly paramours. Perhaps it is money, popularity, possessions, or power. Perhaps we have forsaken God for our careers, politics, philosophies, or arts and sciences. Some have outright left God; others keep two or more beds, still speaking of their love for God but involved with many other dalliances as well. Yes, this is a troubled marriage, not on God’s part, but surely on ours.
And through it all, what does God decide to do? In the end, as Hosea’s story illustrates, God chooses to redeem, to buy back, his bride—and at quite a cost: For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect (1 Peter 3:19-20). Yes, God paid dearly to draw us back to Him. And yet still we stray and often show little appreciation of His love.”
Msgr. Charles Pope
If we acknowledge God as not only the creator of our world but as a personal God who loves us and is committed to us as a husband is to his bride, maybe then we would be more conscious to love, respect, and make Him first priority in our lives, not allowing the world and it’s pleasures to lead our hearts away from Him. Please do not misunderstand, there isn’t anything wrong with enjoying life, but not to the extent that’s all we live for.
I am thankful for Jesus’ everlasting love, and patience for me. Even when I go astray I don’t have to worry about abandonment from Him, He is always there with open arms when I return. Thank you Lord!
